Modi’s ‘Rafale fear’ behind plum post offer to Sikri: Rahul

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday charged Prime Minister Narendra Modi with destroying key institutions to cover up the “Rafale scam” following reports of Supreme Court judge A.K. Sikri, who sided with the government to remove CBI Director Alok Verma, being nominated to the Commonwealth Tribunal.

According to sources, Justice Sikri was nominated by the Modi government to the prestigious post of President/ Member of the London-based Commonwealth Secretariat Arbitral Tribunal (CSAT).

CSAT is the final adjudicator of disputes arising out of contracts entered into by or on behalf of the Commonwealth Secretariat. After reports of his nomination emerged, Justice Sikri declined his “consent” for the post.

Reacting to the development, Gandhi tweeted: “When the scales of justice are tampered with, anarchy reigns.”

“This Prime Minister will stop at nothing, stoop to anything and destroy everything, to cover up the Rafale Scam. He’s driven by fear. It’s this fear that is making him corrupt and destroy key institutions,” said Gandhi tagging a media report about the post-retirement offer to the Supreme Court judge.

Sikri was part of the Selection Committee including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge that on Thursday decided 2:1 to remove CBI chief Verma from the post. Kharge gave a dissenting note and opposed Verma’s ouster.